Weather tops, golf average

Quite perfect golfing conditions greeted the competitors in last Sunday's T R C Toyota Wairarapa Open 36-hole Mixed Foursomes.
However, one must say that the scoring did not really match the conditions with the best gross of the day being a 79, nowhere near the standard reached by last year's winners Janie Field and Bruce Middlemiss who were absent this year.
However, there was an exciting finish to the main event with honours actually being shared between two pairs. After the morning rounds, visitors Haupai Puha from Te Marua and Kawhena Rangihaeta from the Manor Park club were the leaders with an 81, two ahead of the rest of the field. Kawhena, incidentally, has been selected at number 2 in the Wellington Women's representative team.
The pair put together another 81 in the afternoon but Brent McKenzie and Sereana Phillipps improved on their first round 83 to post a 79 and snatch a tie in the contest, the first for some years. While the cup is shared, for prize table purposes a count back gave top award to the local pairing.
In the nett division Goff Moorcock and Jan Thompson took the honours with two solid rounds. However, the prize for inconsistency must go to Peter and Ann Kenny who started the day with a great 84 (nett 62.5). The afternoon was a disaster, 23 shots worse, for a gross 107 (nett 85.5). A terrible 10 at the par 3 8th hole didn't help matters. I can understand their feelings ? my partner and I took an 11 on that self-same hole in the men's Wairarapa Foursomes some years ago.
Results:
Gross: Brent McKenzie/Sereana Phillipps 83/79 162 1st, Haupai Puha/Kawhena Rangihaeta 81/81 162 2nd, Alan and Jan Williams 85/87 172 3rd, Sofi Fanua/Hannah Meulenbroek 89/86 4th.
Nett: Goff Moorcock/Jan Thompson 68.5/71.5 140 1st, Paul Williams/Vicki Duffy 70.5/71.5 142 2nd, Jeff Ogg/Lola Ogg 143 3rd, Alic Foreman/Heather Small 145 5th.
Stableford: (afternoon): Hira Renata and Ngaire Stevens 38 pts 1st, Graeme and Kay McIsaac 36 pts 2nd.
Longest drives went to Kawhena Rangihaeta and Jeff Ogg, while nearest the pin prizes were claimed by Tori Forrester and Graeme McIsaac.
Last Saturday saw 40 golfers taking part in a South African Stableford, where partners multiply their individual stableford scores on each hole. Results:
Group 1: Brian Campbell/Nigel Udy 78 pts 1st, Bob Hill/Shane Grant 71 pts 2nd.
Group 2: Jamie Pottinger/Arthur Sandford 75 pts 1st, Kieran Dougherty/Cor Van Kesteren 71 pts 2nd.
Women: Sereana Phillipps 34 pts 1st, Jane Buchanan 34 pts 2nd.
Nearest the Pin prizes went to Peter Connell at the Alex McLeod 8th hole, to Roley Brown at the Fire Services 11th and to Brian Campbell at the Money Managers 18th hole.
The Rob Walker Car Painters draw was struck again last Saturday with Janie Buchanan the lucky one.
Last week the 9 holers had what could only be described as a Fun Day. They played in teams of three and were allowed one kick, one throw, one mulligan (another shot) and one pin adjustment, per player. Now I am not sure whether this generous concession applied to every hole, but hey, who's worried about that ? it was a fun day! The team of Noelene Eastwood, Pat Tomlinson and Gill Neal proved tops with 163 shots, ahead of Shona Wiley, Marie Wilson and Mary Mahoney on 167 shots. Mary, however, took the All Teed Up nearest the pin prize.
The final round of the Riverside Cup was played at Martinborough on Friday. We had a 4/2 win over Riversdale. Eketahuna was the overall winner with us coming second equal with Carterton. This is a great result as we try to encourage our newer golfers to play in this competition.
The splendid weather continued for the field of just on 60 Vets last Monday, playing in the usual stableford. Results:
Women: Sylvia Howden 31 pts 1st, Cynthia Smith 28 pts 2nd, Bib Vallance 26 pts 3rd.
Men Group 1: Bob Hullena 28 pts 1st, Harvey Ward 27 pts 2nd, Bob Tatham 26 pts 3rd.
Men Group 2: Peter Howden 30 pts 1st, Rex Lawrence 30 pts 2nd, Brian Jury 28 pts 3rd.
Nearest the pin prizes at the Fagan Ford 8th hole went to Richard Pickering and Cynthia Smith.
Perfect conditions saw the women playing the Norah Lambourn 4 Ball Best Ball on Tuesday. The winners were Jeanette McNae and Pam Williams with a nett 61. Pam had a great day with a nett 63 on her own. The runners up were Hannah Meulenbroek and Shura Lindsey.
Next Saturday, September 17, sees the annual Murray Halberg Day at Lansdowne with proceeds, as usual, going to the Crippled Children Society. There is a $5.00 entry fee, a monster raffle, an auction and the usual fun of the fair. Local business houses have been generous in their support of the day so let's hope that golfers will also do their bit towards this worthy cause. This invitation, of course, is extended to members of the Eagles Golfing Society.
Further, on Sunday, October 2, the Wine and Dine Tournament will be staged ? postponed, you will remember, away back in June. Graeme Jones has vowed to produce a fine day for that, seeing he let us down weatherwise on Queen's Birthday Weekend.
Off the Fairway
Best wishes to John Falloon, in hospital following a recent major operation. John played in the Holden Scramble so this set-back was totally out of the blue.
Our condolences to Dorne and the rest of the Colvin family on the recent death of Peter Colvin. Peter was a long time member of the club, but following an accident a couple of years ago he has not been playing. I personally will miss Peter a great deal ? I enjoyed sparring verbally with him where he was a hard man to beat. Peter had a wicked sense of humour and I could tell a few tales about that, as no doubt could other members. Well played, Peter, Old Son.